Surgical disconnection of lymphorenal communication for chyluria: a 15-year experience.

OBJECTIVE: To present the results of surgical lymphorenal disconnection and its advantages in patients with severe chyluria. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy-eight patients (40 men and 38 women, age 22-58 years) with severe chyluria of variable duration (5 months to 14 years), underwent surgical disconnection of the lymphorenal communication after confirming the diagnosis of chyluria by urine examination for fat globules, lymphangiography to delineate the side, site and extent of lymphorenal communication, and cystoscopy to decide the side to be operated. The areolar tissue containing dilated lymphatics travelling to the kidney in the perirenal and hilar region was dissected and divided between ligatures, thus stripping these structures completely; only one side was operated at a time. RESULTS: All 78 patients were available for a minimum follow-up of 1 year, with the longest follow-up 15 years. Lymphangiography showed unilateral communication in 52 (66%) and bilateral in 26 (34%). If the patient was given a high-fat meal before surgery, the intra-operative visualization of the lymphatics was improved. With unilateral surgery, clearance was achieved in 74 (94%) immediately, with final success in 69 (88%) patients. Of the 26 (34%) patients with bilateral lesions, nine (12%) required bilateral surgery, giving a clearance rate of 97%. In two cases of failure, repeat surgery was successful in one; thus the overall success rate was 98%. CONCLUSION: Lymphorenal disconnection for chyluria is simple, successful as a permanent cure and with almost negligible complications. Bilateral lymphorenal communication seen on lymphangiography does not always warrant bilateral surgery.

Male reproductive function in uraemia: efficacy of haemodialysis and renal transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of maintenance haemodialysis and live-related renal transplantation on the reproductive potential of men with end-stage renal disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The plasma levels of testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were determined, and semen analysed, in 19 men (22-41 years old) with advanced uraemia after 6 months of dialysis and again 6 months after renal transplantation. Eight patients who had azoospermia or severe oligospermia underwent testicular biopsy after 6 months of dialysis and again 6 months after the transplant. RESULTS: Following dialysis, levels of testosterone were low in 17 patients and levels of LH and FSH were elevated in 15 and eight patients, respectively. Four patients each had azoospermia and severe oligospermia. The testicular tissue was hypospematogenic in three patients, showed late-maturation arrest in four and germ cell aplasia in one. After renal transplantation, testosterone and LH levels returned to normal in 15 and 13 patients, respectively, while FSH levels became normal in only two patients. The recovery of testosterone and LH levels after transplantation was statistically significant. Semen quality improved in 13 patients, with the improvement in sperm density and motility being statistically significant. Testicular histology revealed normal spermatogenesis in four patients, while three continued to show late-maturation arrest. The wives of five of the transplanted patients conceived. CONCLUSIONS: The impairment of testicular function seen in advanced uraemia is not reversible by maintenance haemodialysis. In contrast, after successful transplantation, steroidogenic function became almost normal while spermatogenic function showed a striking if incomplete recovery.

Post-surgical recurrent varicocele: efficacy of internal spermatic venography and steel-coil embolization.

OBJECTIVE: To delineate the venographic anatomy of the varicoceles which recur following conventional inguinal varicocele ligation and to determine the therapeutic efficacy of steel-coil embolization as assessed by improvements in seminal parameters and paternity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-nine patients with post-surgical recurrent varicoceles underwent bilateral internal spermatic venography approached through the right femoral vein. The collateral venous channels were identified and occluded using appropriate sizes of steel coils. RESULTS: The procedure was technically successful in 33 patients (85%). Analysis of the 33 venograms showed a unilateral left-sided recurrent varicocele in 28 patients (85%) and bilateral recurrent varicoceles in five patients (15%). The mid and lower parallel collateral channels were observed in 27 patients (82%). The recurrences were treated easily with stainless steel-coil embolization. Five patients were lost to follow-up. Of the remaining 28 patients the sperm count and motility became normal in 16 (57%); only the motility improved in three patients (10%) while in nine patients (33%) there were no changes in either of the seminal parameters. Five patients achieved paternity. CONCLUSIONS: Internal spermatic venography allowed a precise anatomical definition of the recurrent varicocele and the use of steel-coil embolization provided satisfactory improvements in sperm quality and paternity.

Alpha blocker prazosin for the treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH).

In this study medical treatment with alpha blocker-prazosin is compared with transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) in 62 patients suffering from benign enlargement of prostate with a gland size of less than 20 gms. After thorough interrogation patients were offered either TURP or prazosin therapy. Symptom scoring, residual volume of urine and urinary flow rates were estimated in both the groups before and 3 months after the therapy. 23.5% patients in prazosin group while 90% of patients in TURP group had significant improvement. This distinctly brings out the superiority of TURP for benign enlargement of prostate.

Anterior urethral valve in an adolescent boy.

A 14 year old boy with a relatively uncommon anterior urethral valve is described herein.

Intraurethral catheter: alternative management for urinary retention in patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy.

A polyurethane intraurethral catheter (IUC) was used in 27 patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy who were unfit for surgery, or were awaiting surgery. All of them had previously had a periurethral catheter inserted. The IUC was inserted with a cystoscope under fluoroscopic control. Spontaneous voiding through the IUC resumed in 25 patients (93%) in the immediate postprocedure period. At the end of 6 months follow-up, the peak flow rates and the residual volumes estimated in 22 patients were satisfactory. Immediate complications included incontinence due to distal displacement in 2 patients and hematuria in one patient; long-term complications included mild encrustation of the IUC in 2 patients and calculus formation on the IUC in 1 patient. None of the patients had clinically significant urinary tract infection. The presence of the IUC did not compromise the subsequent transurethral resection of the prostate gland. We recommend the use of an IUC for up to 6 months in patients with urinary retention who are awaiting surgery or are unfit for surgery as an alternative to an indwelling urethral catheter.